Adding fun teatime to your homeschool poetry study is a beautiful way to include everyone, whatever their age, skill level, and interests. Also, you’ll love more resources on my post The Ultimate Guide to Poetry for Multiple Ages (For the Intimidated).
Too, I’m excited because April is National Poetry Month.
What better reason to start enjoying afternoon poetry teatime with the family.
Maybe you haven’t done poetry study yet, then this might be the perfect way to incorporate it.
If you don’t know what it is, then read on.
What Is Poetry Teatime
Poetry Teatime is a lovely way to slow down, and enjoy each other and some tea, maybe a nibble or two, and absorb the beauty of the world of poetry.
Julie Bogart from Brave writer is credited with bringing this fun and special time to the homeschool world.
Everyone does it a little differently.
Some do it every week or every month, and some just occasionally.
Other families choose various themes, dressing up a bit is fun but not required.
You can enjoy poetry teatime on the couch, at the table, or even outside as a picnic.
It truly is as simple as 1,2,3,
- Step 1 Gather Everyone Together
- Bring some kind of beverage and snack.
- Read Poetry
- Oh, and step 4 Enjoy.
Poetry Teatime Themes
Themes can give your poetry study a fun direction to go in and you can create a theme based on almost anything you are learning.
Here are some of my favorites.
- Nature- Poems about grass, the sky, trees, insects, etc.
- Female Poets-Angelou, Browning, Plath, Dickinson.
- Seasons-Celebrate the beginning of a new season.
- The Hobbit- Bring a little bit of the shire home. Here is a list of poems in The Hobbit.
- Silly Holidays- Think National Spaghetti Day or Batman Day.
- Medieval -Sir Gawain and The Green Knight? Beowulf?
- International Poetry Teatime- China, Russia, France, All American.
Shakespeare-Shall I Compare Thee To a Summer’s Day? Sonnet 18
Also, look at some of these fun books for your littlest bard.
Preschool to Elementary Poetry Books
Begin teaching poetry to nurture a budding bard. Add some of these books and resources to your poetry unit study or just for a lesson for the day.
For the first time ever, 75 beloved songs from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and The Children's Corner are collected in this charmingly illustrated treasury, sure to be cherished by generations of children as well as the millions of adults who grew up with Mister Rogers.
Here is a delightful look at childhood, written by master poet and storyteller Robert Louis Stevenson. In this collection of sixty-six poems, Stevenson recalls the joys of his childhood, from sailing boats down a river, to waiting for the lamplighter, to sailing off to foreign lands in his imagination. Tasha Tudor's watercolor paintings evoke a simpler time in the past, and celebrate two of the things she loves most -- children and nature. Her talents are the perfect match for these inspiring poems, making this a handsome gift edition that will be cherished by families for generations.
William Blake, Kate Greenaway, Emily Dickinson: the writers in this charming anthology of 200 poems—first published in 1969—are among literature’s most beloved. And Gyo Fujikawa’s appealing illustrations depict children of all races sweetly interacting, as well as an engagingly rendered menagerie of animals and the natural world in all its wonderment.
irst published in 1986 and just as fresh and relevant today, this widely acclaimed, child-friendly poetry anthology is now being reissued with a striking new jacket. In his introduction to this book Jim Trelease, bestselling author of The Read-Aloud Handbook, writes, “No one better recognizes the essence of the child-poetry connection than poet and anthologist Jack Prelutsky. . . . Here are more than 200 little poems to feed little people with little attention spans to help both grow. Marc Brown’s inviting illustrations add a visual dimension to the poems, which further engage young imaginations.” The poems are by 119 of the best-known poets of the 20th century.
Poetry is fun—especially when we can read it, hear it, and discover its many delights. A Child's Introduction to Poetry joyously introduces kids (and parents) to the greatest poets in history—from Homer and Shakespeare to Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou—and provides excellent examples of their work and commentary on what makes it so special and everlasting. The book covers every style of poem, from epics and odes, to nonsense verse and haikus, and is filled with examples of each one.
A timeless collection celebrating the joys of poetry for children of all ages—an indispensable introduction to literature and life that brings together essential classic children's poems with the best of modern and contemporary international poetry.
The simple pleasures of reading and listening to poetry can make unforgettable memories in childhood and help children develop an interest in language and storytelling. From Robert Frost to Maya Angelou, Shel Silverstein to Emily Dickinson, this collection emphasizes the fun and diversity of poetry, providing young readers with a well-rounded, inclusive selection of poets.
In 1926, the world was introduced to a portly little bear named Winnie-the-Pooh. Along with his young friend, Christopher Robin, Pooh delighted readers from the very beginning. His often befuddled perceptions and adorable insights won the hearts of everyone around him, including his close group of friends. From the energetic Tigger to the dismal Eeyore, A. A. Milne created a charming bunch, both entertaining and inspirational. These simple creatures often reflected a small piece of all of us: humble, silly, wise, cautious, creative, and full of life.
Hands-On Activities Poetry
- While you can use anything you have on hand already it would be fun to visit thrift stores and hunt for pretty cups and teapots together-also a great lesson in thriftiness.
- This is a great opportunity to let your child take the lead. Let your child help or completely plan the menu, the theme, or other activities.
- Some kids just can’t sit still, and that’s okay. During poetry read-aloud, let your kids be busy with play dough, drawing, or simple quiet handiwork like needle felting or a simple sewing project.
- Create a template for younger children to learn how to properly set a table. Simply trace the plate, cup, and utensils on a piece of construction paper and laminate it for practice.
- Have your child write their own poem to share and try different styles of poetry each time or for each person.
- Make tea sandwiches. Put together your child’s favorite be it a peanut butter and jelly or cucumber sandwich. Cut them into tiny bite-size pieces for a fun treat.
- Think of special food like tea with crumpets, scones, tiny cookies, fruit, and dainty petit fours for a special treat.
- Make teatime a lesson in table manners, practice being fancy pinkies up.
More Homeschool Poetry Resources
In addition, I have these other posts with more great resources.
Also, look at these books for middle and high school kids.
Middle to High School Poetry Books & Curriculum
Grab some of these books for your middle to high school students and instill a love of poetry. It doesn't have to be that hard to learn about figurative language.
Are you looking for a Poetry Book with an amazing collection of the most famous english poems?
This great English Poetry Anthology contains 150 of the Most Famous Poems of the last centuries. Dating from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, these famous poems remain Masterpieces of English Literature and continue to inspire and influence people all over the world.
Poetry Speaks Who I Am is filled with more than 100 remarkable poems for teen boys and girls, making it the perfect addition to any classroom. With poems about who teens are and who they are becoming, they'll find poems that make them laugh, that make them angry, or poems that speak directly to them.
Poetry is a universal art form, and a deep communication of the world around us. The Art of Poetry is an excellent upper school curriculum. It will teach how to read a poem, and introduce students to the many elements and forms of poetry. The book is rich with examples from many sources, including their explication. A biography of each poet is included, along with an audio CD of many of the poems.
Throughout her illustrious career in letters, Maya Angelou gifted, healed, and inspired the world with her words. Now the beauty and spirit of those words live on in this new and complete collection of poetry that reflects and honors the writer’s remarkable life.
Use all your senses—not just your eyes—when you read Robert Frost’s remarkable poems. Your own world will quickly melt away as Frost draws you into winter wonderlands, forests, and fields. More than twenty-five of the Pulitzer-Prize winner’s best-loved poems are included, along with stunning illustrations, in this introduction to the work of one of America’s greatest poets.
Girls of all ages will enjoy reading poems catered specifically to them, whether it means envisioning adventures with princesses and witches, or laughing at the antics of mischievous little girls.
What do you think? Ready to give one of these themes a try?
